“My government has helped
facilitate more than $20 billion in resources projects since January 2015.

“This has helped the
Queensland economy continue to grow and it has helped contribute to the 192,000
jobs that have been created in Queensland since January 2015.”

Minister for State
Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said
metallurgical coal produced in the Bowen Basin is in high demand for use in
steel production in Asia.

“The project will produce
up to 15 million tonnes of metallurgical coal per year for export via the
Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal near Mackay,” he said.

Mr Dick said that the
project maximises the use of existing road, rail, power and water
infrastructure in Queensland’s most established coal region and would operate
alongside 25 existing mines.

“The proposed project includes coal handling and crushing facilities at the mine’s Olive Downs South and Willunga precincts, a rail link to transport coal to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and a water pipeline and power transmission line,” he said.

Member for Mackay and
Assistant Minister for State Development Julieanne Gilbert said this was the
first project that had completed a social impact assessment under the Strong
and Sustainable Resource Communities Act as part of the environmental impact
statement.

“It is also the first
time that the Coordinator General has decided to include the construction phase
as being captured by the SSRC Act, further adding to local benefits,” she said.

“The SSRC Act requires
the proponent Pembroke Resources to encourage workers to live in local towns
like Moranbah, Nebo, Dysart and Middlemount and reduce the reliance on fly-in,
fly-out workers. Pembroke has committed to recruiting locals and people from
other regions who might like to move to local towns.

“There will also be
significant opportunities for local and regional suppliers, contractors, service
providers and businesses.”

Mr Dick said the public
was invited to have their say on the draft environmental impact statement for
the project between September and October 2018 with 37 submissions received.
The independent Coordinator-General considered all submissions in completing
his evaluation of the project.

Subject to Commonwealth
Government approval, Pembroke Resources expects to commence construction in
2020.